The southern world Author:Robert Young Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Cape-town—Visit to Constantia—Duel prevented—School anniversary—Departure—Gale—Another death—Alarm of fire-—Albatross— Fearful gale—Passengers as... more »sist at the pumps—Religious views—Uncle Tom's Cabin—An evening party—Land in sight—Arrival in Australia. Cape-town is built along the shores of Table-Bay, on a plain which rises with an easy, and subsequently toilsome ascent, to the summit of the far-famed Table-Mountain, and is laid out with great regularity, parallel streets intersecting each other at right angles. The castle, situated on the left of the town as you enter from the bay, is a strong fortification, commanding the whole anchorage, and capable, I judge, of successful resistance when complete in its appointments. The public buildings, for the transaction of the affairs of the Government, are all adjoining what are called the Government-Gardens. In these gardens, through which is a public walk overshadowed by splendid oaks, and farther cooled in summer by running streams, is Government-House; besides a College for public education, a Pauper Asylum, and an Infant-school. The Commercial-Hall, situated in the Grand Parade, is a noble building, devoted to various purposes. Its centre room is of spacious dimensions. Here abundance of newspapers, of every political creed, are seen on the table; and visitors, without charge, are permitted to examine them,—a privilege of which I most thankfully availed myself. The Public Library adjoining, and open to all, does honour to (he Cape community, as well as to the Indian visitors, who compose a branch of its supporters. It is enriched with many of the choicest works of every age and nation, and contains about 30,000 volumes. The church buildings are of varied character, and some of them spacious and handsome. The Reformed...« less